Bluffton Middle School students hear from Sun City veterans

Gwyneth J. Saunders/Bluffton TodayBluffton Middle School Principal Dereck Rhoads, left, and teacher Lois Lewis listen as Sun City Veterans Association historian Arnold Rosen tells students about some of the Sun City veterans who served from World War II to Vietnam.

Gwyneth J. Saunders/Bluffton TodayBoy Scout Troop 241's color guard led a group of Sun City Veterans Association members and other veterans into the Bluffton Middle School gymnasium to give a presentation to students.

Gwyneth J. Saunders/Bluffton TodayMembers of the Sun City Veterans Association and veteran parents march into the Bluffton Middle School gymnasium behind Boy Scout 241's color guard prior to the school's Veterans Day ceremonies.

Gwyneth J. Saunders/Bluffton TodayTables displayed brief biographies as well as the history of the Sun City Veterans Association and the history of Veterans Day.

Gwyneth J. Saunders/Bluffton TodayMembers of the Sun City Veterans Association are depicted in photo albums compiled by SCVA historian Arnold Rosen, who gave a presentation on some of the veterans who attended the Bluffton Middle School Veterans Day program.

Gwyneth J. Saunders/Bluffton TodayA few of Sun City's veterans participated in the Bluffton Middle School Veterans Day program. Also in attendance were the students' parents, teachers and substitutes who also served n the military.

Gwyneth J. Saunders/Bluffton TodayFour groups of Bluffton Middle School students and their teachers attended Veterans Day programs in which members of the Sun City Veterans Association were present.

The Bluffton Middle School Mustangs range in age from 11-13 years old. When they attended a special Veterans Day program, they were more than five decades younger than their guests.

Led by Sun City Veterans Association historian Arnold Rosen, the group of World War II, Korean and Vietnam veterans marched into the school’s gymnasium behind a color guard to give a presentation and serve as representatives of those for whom Friday’s holiday was named.

Rosen, who has interviewed and published two books containing the biographies of many Sun City veterans, presented brief career descriptions for the veterans in his group. Their military backgrounds varied, from George Scuffos who served during World War II as the pilot of a B-25 bomber to Alan Breininger who served in Vietnam in the U.S. Navy’s Mobile Riverine Marine Force.

At the end of the first presentation, retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Al Doublet said a few words about discipline and how it helped him become a success and how it would help them in the future to achieve whatever they dreamed.

At the conclusion of the second presentation, Breininger spoke of responsibility and how he was made responsible for people in dangerous situations. He said they all looked out for each other.

Both words were carried further by Rhoads who said discipline was important and that he sees how Mustangs carry out responsibility, taking care of each other.

Also in attendance in the guest seating were the parents of several students who had served in the military.

The color guard came from Boy Scout Troop 241 and was comprised of sixth-graders William Boggs and Matthew Zampino. and seventh-graders Bryan Beaz and Nicholas Rengier.

Seventh-grade students Enmeree Putich and Beth Gabbey alternated singing the Star Spangled Banner, providing beautiful renditions of the National Anthem.

This is the second year the school has invited the veterans to give a presentation before Veterans Day.